System for context transfer for wireless internet devices

Abstract

A system and method for feature context transfer store all currently “active” feature contexts locally at an Access Router (AR), and store all “inactive” feature contexts centrally in a main database. The main database can be accessed by all the ARs within the same administrative domain. When a new microflow becomes active, its active feature contexts are brought from the main database and loaded into the local directory, thus replacing any inactive feature contexts that are not needed at the time.

1 . A communication domain having a central node coupled with at least a first access router (AR) and a second AR, each of said ARs being in wireless communication with at least one mobile node (MN) via at least one active microflow, the communication domain including a system for transferring an MN from said first AR to said second AR in the event of a handover, the system comprising:
 a central database at said central node for storing feature contexts for all microflows in the communication domain, said feature contexts comprising active feature contexts for active microflows and inactive feature contexts for inactive microflows;   a local database at each AR, each local database for storing active feature contexts for each active microflow to a NM; and   a memory transfer agent at each AR, for handling the transfer of only said active feature contexts are from said first AR to said second AR in the event of a handover.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein inactive feature contexts may also be stored in each said local database. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein said forwarded active feature contexts overwrite inactive feature contexts. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a context transfer agent (CTA) at each AR, for determining whether said forwarding of said active feature contexts may proceed. 
     
     
         5 . A method for transferring context data from a first access router (AR) to a second AR upon handover within a domain containing a plurality of ARs, said first and second ARs being coupled to a central node, and said first AR being wirelessly coupled to a mobile node (MN), said wireless coupling including an active microflow, the method comprising:
 storing all feature contexts related to all microflows within the domain at the central node;   storing active feature contexts related to said active microflow at said first AR; and   initiating handover to said second AR, including forwarding said active feature contexts to said second AR.   
     
     
         6 . A method for transferring context data from a first access router (AR) to a second AR upon handover within a domain containing a plurality of ARs, said first and second ARs being coupled to a central node, and each AR being wirelessly coupled to a mobile node (MN) via an active microflow, the method comprising:
 storing all feature contexts related to all microflows within the domain at the central node;   storing active feature contexts related to an active microflow at said first AR; and   forwarding only said active feature context from said first AR to said second AR.